Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Elf's Forest - 2
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I recalled the memories of her sister that I'd heard from Evangeline and opened my mouth.
"I'm pretty sure you said she was an alchemist."
"That's right. She's a promising alchemist even among the Light Wing Tribe."
As the plague began to spread, she was in the midst of investigating and researching it, making medicines, and frequently came into contact with patients. That's how she caught the plague.
Even in that situation, she kept pushing herself with her research until the illness deepened and she began turning undead.
By the time Lorellia had explained everything, we spotted elves armed and standing guard at the barrier.
Beyond them, I could see the village.
A pastoral village centered around a massive tree that soared rigidly toward the sky.
This enormous forest village, the size of a city, was shrouded in an aura of death, the complete opposite of the forest's vitality.
That place was the epicenter of the plague. The Light Wing Village.
"Chief."
As Lorellia arrived, the elf soldiers who had been on alert turned their eyes toward me. Lorellia, seeming to know exactly what wariness was in their gazes, raised her hand to stop them.
"This one is called the Sage. He knows about the plague and claims to know a cure, so drop your guard."
"But..."
Even at her words, the elves' gazes didn't change. Of course, I could understand that.
From their perspective, the plague had suddenly spread. If some random human popped up claiming to know all about it, who would believe him?
Especially since they were elves, steeped in their chosen-people mentality, they'd be even more so.
They shot me looks of contempt and arrogance, as if to say, "As if a mere human like you could cure a plague even we elves can't?"
That's why I had no choice but to ask Lorellia.
"Should I just head back?"
"Ugh... It's fine. I'll go in with you."
"Chief, it's dangerous inside."
"If the Chief catches the plague... We don't even have priests right now... At least wait for Adjutant Yeonhwa to arrive."
"I can use holy power. Heal."
The Heal I cast settled into one of the elves' bodies. The elf who received it scowled deeply.
The reason was simple. The skill I used was holy power from the church.
He was displeased that something other than the holy power based on the Tree of Healing—the dominant religion in the elf forest—had entered him.
What an arrogant race.
I couldn't just smack them...
"Human. Don't get cocky."
"Hmm. If you're going to nitpick over something like that, I have nothing to say."
"Still, it seems you do have holy power. But the Chief can't go. There will be others inside, so join up with them."
I didn't particularly need to go with Lorellia anyway, so it was fine. The elf who'd received my Heal ground his teeth, then stepped aside to open the path. A small entrance formed in the barrier wrapped in blue energy, and as I moved to enter, I approached the elf who'd picked a fight with me earlier.
"What?"
"Nothing. It just rubs me the wrong way to hear you talk like that to someone who's come to help out of goodwill. You. What's your name?"
Talking about chopping off her head right now would just tire me out.
The important thing was curing the plague.
But once I produced the plague cure and treatment method, things would change.
At that point, the elves' lifelines would be in my hands, so I could use them to deal with this guy.
To do that, I needed to know his name for sure.
"...Rankin Freyed."
"Good. Got it."
We'll settle this later.
I confirmed his face one more time, then went inside.
Once inside the barrier, the deathly aura felt even thicker.
At the same time, I felt my body grow slightly heavier.
The plague debuff was taking effect.
Surely... without a holy power shield, you'd catch the disease after a certain time in this state?
I immediately deployed a holy power shield, and only then did I feel my heavy body lighten.
Alright. Let's go.
"You there! Human! Why are you here?!"
Not long after entering, elves in green armor came running toward me. They were holy knights of the Tree of Healing Tribe. As if to control unauthorized movement, they raised their relic-armed weapons toward me—when a voice called from behind.
"It's the human the Chief brought. They say he's called the Sage outside the forest."
Who was this? An elf I hadn't seen before was acting like he knew me.
From the decorations, he seemed to be from the Light Wing Tribe, and a high-ranking one at that...
"The Chief sent me in her place. She couldn't come because of the Elf Forest Council."
"Ah. Okay?"
Whatever.
"The Sage? You mean Sage Hyun-woo?"
"Huh? You know me?"
"I've heard the stories a few times. Unofficial companion for slaying the Demon King... and..."
"And?"
"They say there's nothing in the world you don't know."
So he's heard all the important stuff.
I nodded, and he let out a heavy sigh before extending his hand.
"Rotello, ranger of the Fertile Lands Tribe. I came to help because I have alchemy knowledge."
"Sage. So? Where's the elf turning undead?"
"This way."
Thanks to Rotello, I made it inside without any special interference. The elf adjutant, true to form as Lorellia's second-in-command and afflicted with exposure mania herself, wore something as revealing as a slingshot bikini. She stared at me with considerable curiosity.
"What are you staring at?"
"Oh, nothing. You're more impressive than I thought. Ah, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Yeonhwa of the Light Wing Tribe. Lorellia's first adjutant."
"Your naming convention is the same as the Tree of Healing Tribe? Did you come from there?"
"Yes. That's why I was able to enter."
"Ah."
It wasn't particularly important who she was, so I brushed it off.
We moved along as she explained the current plague situation, how far it had progressed, and the damage, until we arrived at a large building.
It seemed they had gathered all the plague victims there to treat them.
"Most of the elves in Light Wing Village are infected with the plague. Some have it as mild as a cold, but there are many serious cases."
"Hoo. And the worst one is that..."
"Yes. Evangeline's sister from the hero party. Rudhi."
I peeked inside the building. Priests armed with holy power and relics, along with alchemists, were nursing the elves, but treatment seemed impossible.
They were just using holy power and medicine to halt the progression...
At that level, it was merely buying time.
"Elves among the alchemists and priests are getting infected too."
"Really? This is serious..."
*Cough! Cough!*
Just then, I spotted an elf who looked like a priest coughing violently before collapsing. Approaching to check, I found him burning with fever.
"This is really serious."
If the priests and alchemists catch the plague and can't slow it down, it'll spread in an instant.
Even blocking it with the barrier has its limits.
"Sage. How long do you think treatment will take?"
"Who knows. First, I need alchemy equipment to make the cure. Perfect timing. Bring that priest over here."
At my command, some elves looked displeased. But thanks to Rotello and Yeonhwa? They followed my instructions, and when we arrived at the alchemy equipment area, some elf alchemists startled upon seeing me.
"You're...?"
"The Sage?"
While progressing the main story, I'd sold high-grade mana recovery potions and recipes to make some money.
Since the recipes were only found after defeating the Demon King, they didn't have them then, so I got a hefty sum for the recipes, and my name spread in the alchemy guild.
Even self-important elves need knowledge exchange for alchemy.
So, the elf alchemists who'd been to the guild recognized me and perked up their ears in delight.
"The great alchemy Sage has come..."
"This is truly fortunate... Haah..."
The priests seemed surprised by the alchemists' reactions. They must not have realized I was this big a deal.
Anyway, the important thing...
"Draw some blood from that priest. And can I use this for the enchanting table?"
"Oh. Use this one."
"Use these for catalysts and reagents."
Arrogant elves.
Even alchemists who treasure their own equipment and materials like life itself handing theirs over—it was quite the sight.
Of course, I'd seen it a few times in the game, but in reality, I hadn't seen elves grovel like this often.
Pushing aside the fresh sensation, I immediately began brewing the potion. Moments later, I dropped blood from a syringe into the chalice.
-Hiss!
The blood reacted with my potion, and black energy rose from it before dissipating. Seeing this, the alchemists' eyes widened as they grabbed me and asked.
"That just now—wasn't that death energy?"
"Yeah. This plague is caused by a curse, after all. I gave Lorellia the Chief a rough explanation, right?"
"But we didn't think it was real."
"So for recovery, first we need blessings and curse removal, then boost the body's reactivity..."
I shared my knowledge with the alchemists, and they listened without blinking.
It felt like I was giving a lecture.
While the elf alchemists, who couldn't buy this lecture even for money, kept exclaiming in awe or snapping their fingers, I finished the potion and injected it into the collapsed priest's arm with the syringe.
"Is it okay to just inject it like that?"
Yeonhwa cried out in surprise, but I ignored her. What mattered now was the potion's reactivity.
"Ugh..."
"The fever's going down."
"For now, lay him down and keep monitoring his condition."
"Yes!"
The onlookers seemed quite shocked that the alchemists followed my orders so obediently. But it was inevitable.
Alchemists' positions are determined by their knowledge, after all.
"Then, leave this place as is... Ah. And in a few days, support will come from the kingdom and the church. I told Chief Lorellia, so share knowledge with them when they arrive."
"Understood."
"Alright..."
I clenched and unclenched my fist, loosening up. Watching this, Rotello looked puzzled before asking awkwardly.
"What are you doing right now?"
"Going to treat Rudhi. She's turning undead, right?"
"Uh... yeah, but. Aren't you stretching like that to fight?"
Good eye. I nodded and pulled Moonlight from my bag, fastening it to my waist.
As I equipped my weapon, some elves tensed and gripped theirs. I smiled at them.
"No, Sage. Right now..."
"Come on. Let's go. From what I heard of Rudhi's condition, right about now..."
-KABOOM!!
-KRAAAAA!!
A crashing sound rang out along with a monstrous roar. As the startled group turned toward the noise.
I sensed the overflowing death energy and said.
"It's time for her to rampage. So first, we need to calm her down, right?"
"...How do you plan to treat that?"
I laughed at their shocked question.
It seemed difficult, but the treatment method was simpler than expected.
"Physical therapy."
Author's Note
Hello, this is Malmoomalmoo ㅎ
It's fully autumn now. Relieved that the weather's cooled a bit.
Still, watch out for colds with the big temperature swings. Have a good night~